Free The Gillespie Five (A Political / Conspiracy Novel) - Book 1 (42) by T.K. Harris Page B

real.  He began moving again only when she held out a cup of coffee, which he took without a word, too shocked to say anything.
    "Have a seat, Alex.  We've got a bit of a story to tell you and even if we know it’s a bit farfetched, it's a possible lead we didn't have before." 
    Karen walked over to where her husband stood and he placed his hand on hers.  He smiled briefly at her.  In that smile, Alex saw the first glimpse of something besides despair.
    "Okay, what is it, Ken?  What's this about Tommy?"
    Ken took a deep breath, patted his wife's hands and then launched into a story that sounded as if it had come from the latest conspiracy novel.  As he listened, Alex's hope began to fade.  If what Ken was saying was true, then either Tommy had done something really wrong or knew someone who had.  And though the FBI might not reach out to the parent's - as Tommy was no longer considered a minor - they probably would have heard something by now.  Keeping his face passive, he remained silent until his brother finished his story.
    "So, what do you think?" 
    "Well, there's always the possibility.  I would need more information."
    "Ben has my information, and I’m hoping to hear something from him or Matt soon.  We already have a meeting scheduled with the police commander about what Ben told us, but we thought you would be the one to figure out if there is any validity to his story."
    "Well I can ask around.  Normally my office would have been notified about something like this though.  It would help if we had that URL or, better yet, Tommy's computer."
    Ken glanced at his wife and Alex watched a look pass between them.  He could see some of the hope beginning to leave their eyes and tried to think of something, anything that would keep that from happening. 
    Unconsciously, he had stood and begun pacing, his mind turning over what he had just been told.  Hands shoved deep in his pockets, head down, he started listing off names in his head of who to start calling.  But they wouldn’t get far if they didn’t know what they were looking for.  How was he going to get that with Tommy’s computer missing and having to rely on two scared kids to remember what Tommy had done? 
    When the thought finally came, he could have slapped himself.
    "Is Tommy's room still taped off?"
    "I don't know," Ken replied.  "Probably not, but I can check.  Why?"
    "I may have another option besides relying on those kids to remember something.  I just don't know yet.  Can you get me in his room?"
    Ken rose, grabbing his keys.  "I can leave now and try to talk to the commander earlier than our scheduled appointment.  Give me a little time and I'll call you to see what they say, but they may not be able to do anything until Monday."
    Alex nodded, mentally kicking himself as he followed Ken and Karen out of the house, his mind racing. If it was true, he couldn't imagine what Tommy could have done to bring the FBI down on him.  But, if the police and the school had failed to locate what Alex was going to look for, he might just have a way to find out what Tommy been up to.  He only wished he had remembered it sooner.  They might already know where Tommy was if he had.

Chapter Ten
     
     
    Tommy looked up as he heard the lock turning. 
    Oh, God.  Please, no more.  
    He curled into a tighter ball, in too much pain to even cry.  He had told them everything already, but they kept insisting he was lying.  Another round of coughing caught him, sending pain shooting through his bruised body. 
    Please, no more.
    The door opened and Tommy tried to rise like the guards expected.  Instead he was seized with uncontrollable shivers.  The guards came toward him and Tommy braced himself for the blow he knew was coming.
    "Leave him.  And leave us."  The unfamiliar voice was female.  At least he thought so, but his mind had been playing tricks on him. 
      Tommy opened his eyes.  From his prone position he saw a small woman in a